Warriors trade Dorell Wright to 76ers

WARRIORS

Updated 12:14 am, Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Photo: Jim Mone, Associated Press

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FILE - In this April 4, 2012, file photo, Golden State Warriors' Dorell Wright vies for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis. A person familiar with the decision says the Warriors have agreed to trade Wright to the Philadelphia 76ers for the rights to a player currently in Europe. (AP Photo/ Jim Mone, File) less

FILE - In this April 4, 2012, file photo, Golden State Warriors' Dorell Wright vies for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis. A person ... more

Photo: Jim Mone, Associated Press

Warriors trade Dorell Wright to 76ers

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Las Vegas --

It's fitting that the NBA free-agent signing moratorium came to a close late Tuesday night as the league descended on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Warriors took their first gamble of the free-agency period, agreeing to trade starting small forward Dorell Wright to Philadelphia for the rights to 28-year-old Bosnian forward/center Edin Bavcic and financial flexibility, according to league sources.

The trade is expected to go through without any hiccups, but it is contingent on Philadelphia using its amnesty clause on Elton Brand. The Warriors don't have any plans to bring Bavcic to the United States, but the transaction rids the Warriors of a glut of small forwards, gives them a $4.1 million trade exception, and affords the ability to use both the mid-level and bi-annual exceptions in free agency without butting up against the luxury tax.

Basically, it gives the Warriors a seat at the poker table after 10 days of folding to teams with bigger stacks of chips.

The Warriors' top priority during free agency is re-signing Brandon Rush, a restricted free agent who became a valuable sixth man last season. The team also wants to use its exception money to find a backup guard to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and someone to log minutes behind power forward David Lee.

"The mandate from ownership is to be aggressive, but we also have to balance that by being prudent," Myers said. "We're willing to spend on a difference-maker who moves the needle for us, possible even into the luxury tax. That player would really have to help us in a meaningful way, though."

Myers said he has had a number of free-agent talks and one-to-one and multi-team trade discussions, but they haven't netted any results despite some that "got to the goal line." Even with the new financial flexibility, Myers doesn't expect an imminent signing as players officially could start inking deals overnight.

The Warriors kicked the tires on point guards Jason Kidd, Andre Miller and Kirk Hinrich, but got none. Brandon Roy, who missed last season because of knee trouble, chose Minnesota, which was willing to pay $10.4 million for two years.

The Warriors were interested in forwards Darrell Arthur and Reggie Evans, still might be in the running for Jordan Hill, who seems to be down to Minnesota or the Lakers, and are finalists against Charlotte for Antawn Jamison and J.J. Hickson.

"On a couple of deals, we were close and we worked hard on them," Myers said. "The results aren't there, but I can promise you that the days have been very long. We're working tirelessly to accomplish something, but most of the time, these deals don't happen for a variety of reasons."

The Warriors are hamstrung by having only the mid-level exception (about $5 million) and the bi-annual exception (about $2 million) to offer. They also are trying to sign one- or two-year deals, because their salary cap could allow them to make a huge free-agency play in 2014.

They believe that after the teams offering more money and longer deals break the bank, there will be players who match the Warriors' needs still available. Plus, they'll be able to see if Rush signs an offer sheet with an opposing team and have budgeted the money to match.

"A ton of guys are getting renounced, and that floods the market with unrestricted guys who will probably get deals before the remaining restricted free agents," Myers said. "We can make deals independent of Brandon, but we're keeping one eye on him at all times. We're going to be aggressive and move forward with free agency."

There was expected to be a better market for Wright, who defends multiple positions and shoots corner three-pointers. The new collective bargaining agreement, however, has made some teams more cautious about taking on salaries. Some demanded the Warriors include a future draft pick as compensation for taking on Wright's contract.

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Free-agent tracker

As the NBA free-agent signing moratorium came to a close Tuesday night, Warriors general manager Bob Myers reiterated the team's philosophy of being impatient without being imprudent. Here's a look at how that has played with the free agents believed to be on the Warriors' radar:

Guards

Status

Goran Dragic

Signed four-year, $34 million deal with Suns

Raymond Felton

Expected to get $4-6 million from Knicks in sign-and-trade if they don't retain Jeremy Lin

Landry Fields

Signed three-year, $20 million offer sheet with Raptors

Jonny Flynn

Unsigned - Hawks, Bulls and Cavs appear to be frontrunners

Kirk Hinrich

Signed two-year, $6 million deal with Bulls

Jason Kidd

Signed three-year, $9 million deal with Knicks

Jeremy Lin

Signed four-year, $28.8 million offer sheet with Rockets; Knicks expected to match

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